GPR-I hate this stock!!!!!!!!
 

I am really thinking of trimming it off to be like a regular rifle stock.
PROS: Its pretty?
CONS: The half moon on the rear can hurt you if you try to take a quick shot.
The rear of the stock,in very cold weather,like we have here in Pa. muzzle loader season,has to fit over a pretty heavey bunch of material on the coat sleeve. It takes some adjusting to get it to where it can be held and shot!

My first thought is to sell it? But,no one wants to even give me near its value! I only shot it 5 times and the stock caused me to say no more!
Next thought is to try and make a wood filler block for half moon cut out or a recoil pad. The steel butt plate has to go though!
Last,cut the stock off then make a pad!

Or, you can practice with it more and learn how to properly mount the gun.......

I would think mounting man would know how to mount a gun.... ;)

Yeah, that style stock is definitely different. You have to place it off your shoulder, not where you are probably used to holding. Probably once you get used to it you'll be fine.

Or get a stock blank and make it how you want for hunting and save the original stock.

:D Al

Having used that stock for 34 years I have the opposite opinion . I love it . It's great if used as intended . Not only great for off hand shooting but less felt recoil as the arm moves backward with the shove so the recoil is less noticeable then if you have a gun up against the shoulder . If you ever do forget and put a crescent buttplate up to the shoulder you won't soon forget that experience . :)

+1


.....

Use a sling when transporting it. Lay it on your lap when seated. Buy a slip-on recoil pad for it too. It may not make it a genuine olden days looker. But it will help stop what ails you physically.

I did it. But I made sure to remove it, when selling the ML Hawkens-style to a dealer. :p

If you like admire the ML, you can fix it to satisfy you. It just may not appease the traditionalists around you. Really, I don't care to appease anyone but myself, when holding and using my ML.

The GPR stock is very comfortable to shoot. You need to stand 90 degrees to the target, and the gun is mounted across the body in the pocket between the shoulder and bicep.

If you mount it like a modern gun it will hurt.

I know what you're saying. I have two of them and it took some time to "learn" to get it off my shoulder. But once you have it, and practice with it... its actually comfortable.

If you dislike it that much might I suggest sell it and get a Lyman Trade Rifle instead. Or as suggested. A large rubber butt stock cover could be installed and then that would solve the problem. Although I would lengthen the LOP.

If you were to cut the "horns" off, you could add a new back plate of some kind. It might not look to bad and be what you want.

I hear what you are saying my GPR has become a safe queen for the same reasons.

If learning to shoot with that style of stock is a non-starter because of the clothes you have to wear you might want to take a look at Jaeger rifles. Jaeger's are shorter than Kentucky/Pennsylvania rifles so they are easy to hunt with. And most importantly for you the Jaeger has a flat chunky butt. Nothing against the GPR but after buying a Jaeger I never wanted to shoot a crescent stocked rifle again.

Here is a pic of a Jaeger from ToW:

No doubt. First time I shot a crescent stock, I almost never did again. My dad has one, he didn't tell me anything about how to hold it, just let me shoot it then laughed at me as I was in pain. :)
After learning where to hold, it wasn't so bad. I don't think I would buy one personally, I prefer the regular style.

mounting man,

It's your rifle so what you do is ultimately your decision. Personally I wouldn't cut the stock and retro-fit a butt pad as it would ruin the aesthetics of the rifle so to speak and decrease the value, but it's yours and if that's what you choose to do, so be it.

As far as no one giving you what it's worth, you'll probably never get full value because it's used (even slightly) and it's not rare. Not to mention that in today's world, everyone wants something for as cheap as they can get it.

Seeing as how you have a lot of time between now and next Flintlock season, my suggestion is this...

If you know someone that's a very good woodworker/carver, kind of like someone who restores antique furniture or maybe someone that builds custom rifle stocks, you could have them make you a retro-fit butt plate from quality hardwood that fits the factory contour of your rifle but with a squared end like a regular rifle stock has. You could have them cut course checkering or horizontal lines in it so that it wouldn't be slippery when mounted to the shoulder. You may even be able to have something made from black nylon so that it looks compatible with the iron furniture it has now.

This alteration will more than likely change the LOP a bit so it's something you'll have to look into before plunking down any $$$. I would probably trace out and cut a chunk of pine for a "filler" as you stated and then duct tape it into the crescent. Then you can shoulder mount the rifle to find out if it's going to fit you.

On a side note... I've shot a number of the GPR's and although I'm not enamored with their deep crescent style butt plate, I never really found them to be a hindrance. Seems like the first time I shot one, I kinda "naturally" found the pocket it should rest in and from thereon whenever I shoulder one it seems to just fall into place...but that's how it works for me.

BPS

Heck if you don't like it, make a half stock Lancaster...Then you will have a nice, wide, flat butt plate...

Something Like This?
 

I put an aftermarket stock like this on my high-power, & liked it so much I altered the design for my new .58 cal. flint lock. I built it from a plank.

Paul

Nice! You don't see something like that often! Looks like its really comfortable to shoot. :)

If I run to Home Depot or Lowes and purchase a plank, will you build me one? :popcorn:

Triple Se7en says:
If I run to Home Depot or Lowes and purchase a plank, will you build me one?

Sure, if you can find one a full 2" thick in curly white maple, we can talk.
Paul

I bought a Lyman Deerstalker With a rubber butt pad. 24 inch barrel Flint 54 very nice to shoot.

Very nicely done rifle.After looking at your rifle I got to thinking what would the ole timers think of it,so I looked up pics of wheel locks and after seeing some of those works of art,I was amazed.But one thing for sure,they would have liked that recoil pad.

Sometimes I think about the old timers back then. I think they'd be laughing at us for copying what they used when we have better choices.

You might be right,I have an old semi custom flint lock on the wall,that I will trade for moosehuntersupreme gun any day.Except I am a lefty,lol

I guess it's all what you like. I like to use the old stuff. At least I like the way they look better.

No doubt the new muzzleloaders work better, but sometimes that's not important to someone. For some it's not what you kill, but how you do it.

Very True,I am a traditional archer,and hunt with a long bow.I have made a couple of self bows,after many attempts.,lol,,,I was walking down the road one day after a hunt and this landowner comes by and wants to look at my stuff,,he said cool,you can hunt my property too.I never thought I would hear that from him,but he liked the old ways and things too.

Very cool. :party0005:

Yes, I've met a few folks over the years that don't have a problem with you hunting their property with a bow but they won't allow anyone to hunt with a firearm. Mostly because they own horses and they felt that firearms spooked their horses. I don't attempt to try and reason with them otherwise... I just say "Thank you very much" and take it for what it is.

BPS

Using what they used then gives us a better appreciation of what they went through...

Heck, anyone can fill their freezer with a modern, scoped rifle...

Not anyone. I know guys who have hunted elk for 10 years, and haven't got one yet.

We had asked this guy for permission to hunt before,he always said no.After looking at the bow and arrows I had made and talking to me,it was different..Later he gave me permission to muzzleload hunt..I guess it just came down to taking the time to talk.Plus he didn't think I could kill anything with it,except time,,lol

Agreed,you still have to know how to hunt,scout and shoot or else be real lucky.You would be surprised at the number of people who don't shoot their rifle from one year to the next.

No surprise at all. I see them at the range one day before the season starts. They take a couple of shots, don't hit much, and call it good.

I'm sure they're lousy hunters too, and don't get a chance to shoot at anything.

Kinda got off mounting man topic.I have a great plains rifle.I shoot it with 90 grains and round balls.I have always just shot if off the meaty part of my shoulder..I have learned a few things,but its a great shooting rifle,,wait till your shoulder is a little better n try it again.

Muley,

Didn't you buy a left hand GPR from bronko?? If so, how's it working out for ya?

BPS

No, I never bought it. Wish I had now.

Is he a vegetarían??? :violin:

Not by choice.

You do know that Vegetarian is an old indian word for lousy hunter, right.

LOL...No, I never heard that one before.